METRIC DESIGN GUIDE

[Pages:53]Go to Table of Contents

METRIC DESIGN GUIDE

(PBS-PQ260)

September 1995

Public Buildings Service U.S. General Services Administration

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

General Information..................................................................................................... 1

Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1

Benefits Of Metric ....................................................................................................... 3

International Acceptance..................................................................................... 3

Simplicity ............................................................................................................ 3

Product Variations............................................................................................... 3

One Unit For Each Property................................................................................ 3

Pressure....................................................................................................... 4

Power.......................................................................................................... 4

Standards............................................................................................................. 4

Summary ............................................................................................................. 4

Metric Project Definition............................................................................................. 5

Dual Dimensions................................................................................................. 5

Summary ............................................................................................................. 5

Round Metric Dimensions........................................................................................... 6

Architectural........................................................................................................ 6

Civil .................................................................................................................... 7

Structural............................................................................................................. 7

Mechanical .......................................................................................................... 7

Electrical.............................................................................................................. 7

Custom Products ................................................................................................. 8

Modular Products................................................................................................ 8

Drawings...................................................................................................................... 9

Space Between Groups............................................................................... 9

Scales.......................................................................................................... 9

Sheet Sizes.................................................................................................. 9

Specifications ............................................................................................................. 10

Millimeters (mm)................................................................................................ 10

Meters (m).......................................................................................................... 10

Page i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Centimeters (cm)................................................................................................ 10

Rounding and Conversion.................................................................................. 11

Simple Mathematical Rounding................................................................ 11

Professional Rounding............................................................................... 11

Architectural/General.................................................................................................. 13

Module ............................................................................................................... 13

Drywall............................................................................................................... 13

Doors.................................................................................................................. 13

Ceiling Systems.................................................................................................. 13

Architectural/Masonry................................................................................................ 14

Brick........................................................................................................................

14

Block .................................................................................................................. 14

Architectural/Sheet Metal........................................................................................... 15

Civil/Surveying........................................................................................................... 16

Civil/Concrete............................................................................................................. 17

Civil/Reinforcement.................................................................................................... 18

Structural/General....................................................................................................... 19

Metric Projects ................................................................................................... 19

Fasteners............................................................................................................. 19

Structural/Floorload.................................................................................................... 20

Mechanical/General.................................................................................................... 21

Temperature ....................................................................................................... 21

Air Distribution .................................................................................................. 21

Ductwork............................................................................................................ 21

Units........................................................................................................... 21

Mechanical/Pipe.......................................................................................................... 22

Electrical/General........................................................................................................ 23

Wire Size............................................................................................................ 23

Lighting Fixtures................................................................................................ 24

Page ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Product Information.................................................................................................... 25

Air Diffusers and Grilles.................................................................................... 25

Carpet .................................................................................................................. 27

Curtainwall Systems........................................................................................... 27

Doors.................................................................................................................. 27

Drywall............................................................................................................... 28

Elevators............................................................................................................. 29

HVAC Controls.................................................................................................. 29

Lighting Fixtures................................................................................................ 29

Masonry.............................................................................................................. 31

Plywood.............................................................................................................. 33

Raised Access Flooring...................................................................................... 34

Reinforcing Steel................................................................................................ 34

Steel Fabrication................................................................................................. 35

Structural Bolts................................................................................................... 35

Suspended Ceiling Systems................................................................................ 36

Systems Furniture............................................................................................... 37

Tools................................................................................................................... 37

Windows ............................................................................................................ 37

General Information.................................................................................................... 39

Executive Order 12770 of July 25, 1991............................................................ 39

AGC Letter to Metrication Operating Committee.............................................. 42

Recommended Preparation......................................................................................... 43

Governmental Organizations.............................................................................. 43

Private Design Firms.......................................................................................... 43

Product Manufacturers....................................................................................... 43

Metric Projects ................................................................................................... 44

Small Projects..................................................................................................... 44

A/E-CM CBD Guidance..................................................................................... 44

Construction CBD Guidance.............................................................................. 45

A/E-CM Scope Guidance................................................................................... 45

Metric Measurement.................................................................................. 46

Specification Guidance....................................................................................... 46

Page iii

METRIC DESIGN GUIDE

General Information

Introduction

Pub. L. 100-418 designated the metric system as the preferred system of weights and measures for U.S. trade and commerce. This law also directed all Federal procurement, grants, and other business-related activities to be metric by September 1992, unless this was impractical or likely to cause loss of markets to U.S. firms. Presidential Executive Order 12770, July 29, 1991, designated the Secretary of Commerce to direct and coordinate metric conversion efforts by all Federal departments and agencies, and authorized the development of specific dates for metric conversion in industries where September 1992 was impractical.

Executive Order 12770 also authorized the Secretary to create an Interagency Council on Metric Policy (ICMP) to assist the effort. The ICMP established 10 working subcommittees, each responsible for the conversion of Federal procurement in a major industry. The Construction Subcommittee was established to oversee metric conversion in the Federal construction industry.

In industries where a September 1992 conversion deadline was not feasible, the Executive order authorized a department or agency to consult the Secretary of Commerce to establish a more feasible date. The Construction Subcommittee evaluated the construction industry and proposed an alternate conversion date of January 1, 1994. This date allowed time to revise standards after some experience with pilot projects. The Subcommittee requested this time because, in the spirit of the law, it was going to propose using as many modular hard-dimension products as are made at any given time.

The General Services Administration (GSA) order, GSA Metric Program (ADM 8000.1B), dated November 11, 1992, required that all procurement be in the metric system of measurement by October 1992 or waivers be issued, supported by an assessment. This order established the alternative date of January 1, 1994, for construction.

Cooperation between Government and the private sector has been vigorously pursued as required by the Executive order. The Construction Subcommittee established a Construction Metrication Council in the National Institute of Buildings Sciences. The meetings of the Construction Metrication Council are attended by Federal agencies involved in construction, professional societies, trade organizations, product manufacturers, labor representatives, code organizations, and design firms. Attendance at the Council is extended to other parties interested in monitoring and assisting the metric conversion of the Federal construction community.

Page 1

PBS-PQ260

METRIC DESIGN GUIDE

All GSA designs for renovation and new construction started after January 1, 1994, are being done in the metric system. Most Federal agencies involved in construction have already committed significant projects to be designed and built in metric.

Many private firms and governmental agencies involved with international construction have provided input and feedback to the material presented here. This document was coordinated with available private sector and professional society metric design guidance. Whenever possible, existing guidance has simply been adopted. Where private guidance did not exist, the most feasible direction has been developed and presented.

There are several "metric" systems in use in the world. The U.S. Government has adopted the International System of Units, abbreviated SI, from the FrenchSyst?me international d'unit?s. SI is used by major professional and code organizations.

An objective of the development of this document has been to minimize the impact on design firms, contractors, and product manufacturers, while still complying with the national directive of increasing U.S. competitiveness

Due to the developmental nature of metric design in the United States, it is probable that this document will be updated occasionally to incorporate new metric design information and metric product manufacturers.

PBS-PQ260

Page 2

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download